Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-01-15

yoN A0uAc ySNA AAu1oS ou0 yoU uiu6k tJy
your hand OH mlnei Or am I to put Jimmy
among the expenses'n he added with
a grin and a slight lifting of his baleful eye
lid.
When they had ridden a mile along the
ridge they began to descend again toward the
valley. Vegetation now sparingly lnrlered
the trail, clumps of chemisal, an occasional
manzanita bush sand one or two dwarfed
buckeyes" rooted their why between the
interstices Of tho black-gray rock. Now and
then, in crossing some dry gully. worn by the
overflow OF winter torrents from above, the
grayish rock gloom was relieved Ivy dull red
and brown masses of color, and almost every
overhnnsing rock bore the mark of a miners
pick. Presently, as they rounded the curv-
ing flank Of the mountain, from a rocky
bench below them, a thin ghost-like stream
Of smoke seemed to Ike steadily drawn by in
visible hands into the invisible ether. ut is
the camp" said Concho, gleefully: II will
myself forward to prepare them for the stran-
ger, aud before his companion could detnin
him be had disappeared at a sharp canter
around the curve 0 the trail.
Left to himself, the stranger took a more
!eisurely pace, which left him ample time for
reflection. Scamp as he was, there was some
thing in the simple credulity of poor Concho
that made him uneasy. Not that bis moral
consciousness was touched, but he feared that
Comedies companions might, knowing Con-
cho's simplicity, instantly suspect him Of trad
I'M; :.pon it. He rode OH in a deep study.
Was he reviewing his past lifea A vagabond
by birth and education, q swindler by profess
sion, an outcast by reputation, without abso-
lutely turning his back upon respectability,
he had treinbled on the perilous edge Of Grim
inality ever since his boyhood. He did not
scruple to cheat these Mexicans-they were a
degraded race-and for o moment be felt al
most an accredited agent Of progress and CIV
ilization. We never really understand the
meaning Of enlightenment until we begin to
use it aggressively.
A few PAGES further on four figures ap-
peared in the now gathering darkness Of tho
trail. The stranger quickly recognized the
heaming smile Of Concho, foremost Of the
party. A quick glance at the faces Of the
others satisfied him that while they lacked
Concho's good humor. they certainly did not
surpass him In intellect. Pedro was a stout
vaquero. Manuel was a slim half breed and
e%x-convert Of the Mission Of San Carmel, and
Miguel a recent butcher Of Monterey.
Under the benign influences Of Concho that
suspicion with which the ignorant regard
strangers died away, and the whole party es-
corted the stranger-who had given his name
as Mr.. Joseph Wiles-to their camp fire. So
anxious were they to begin their experiments
that even the instincts of hospitality wore
forgotten, and it was not until Mr.. Wile-
now known as "Don Jose"-sharply reminded
them that he wanted some grub" that they
came to their senses. When the frugal meal
Of t~ortillas, ~frijoles, salt pork, and chocolate
was over, an oven was built Of the dark red
rock brought from tho ledge before them, and
an earthenware jar, glazed by some peculiar
local process, tightly fitted over 1t, and packed
with clay and sods. A fire was speedily built
Of pine boughs continually brought from a
wooded ravine below, and in few
moments the furnace was in full blast.
Mr.. Wiles did not participate in these
active preparations, except to give &C.
c~asional directions between his teeth, which
were contemplatively fixed over aclay pipe
as he lay comfortably on his back on the
ground. Whatever enjoyment the rascal
may have had in their useless labors be did
not show it, but It was observed that bis left
eye often followed the broad figure Of the ex
vaquero, Pedro, and often dwelt o. that wor
thy's beetling brows and half savage face
Meeting that baleful glance once, Pedrt
growled out an oath, but could not resist I
hideous fascination that caused him agar
and again to seek it.
Tho scene was weird enough without Wilea
sye to add TO ~ villa pieturssQuausss. Th'